up and realize I’m smiling much more than I should be. I should be totally pissed at Roni for this little stunt, but the truth of the matter is that I’ll be happy to see her. I miss our talks about nothing.
She may be guarded, but she’s funny and a quick thinker. One of the things I like most about her is that she doesn’t mince words and she lets you know how she feels. It’s refreshing.
“But why are you here, Roni?” I shake my head at that question. I’ll find out soon enough.
Chapter 20
No Place for Me
Roni
I stand in this fancy hotel room and stare at the dress the smiling woman is holding up for me. What the hell am I doing here? This is not what I came for.
“Mr. Black requested I find something in yellow. Now that I see you, I understand why. This will look gorgeous against your skin,” Julia, the woman who introduced herself as my personal shopper upon my arrival says.
I was more than surprised to be intercepted by the concierge and handed a note from John. Him and his fucking notes. Along with the smiling concierge was this one, with her too-white smile. I’m sorry, not sorry, but I can’t trust anyone that doesn’t have a single stitch out of place.
This chick is like an iBot, but that’s not the weirdest thing going on at the moment. John knew I was coming, and he wants me to join him at his brother’s wedding. The butterflies I had after I first read the note have disappeared as reality sets in.
“I don’t think I’ll be needing that dress,” I say.
Her smile falls. “Oh, I was hoping to get to see you in it. I know Mr. Black would have approved.”
She moves to place the dress and the bag she’s been holding on one of the accent chairs in the living area of the suite. This room is huge and not what I was expecting. None of this is what I expected.
“Weddings aren’t my thing.” I shrug.
Actually, I don’t know if they are or not. What I do know is that I’m not going to that wedding to be judged by John’s family. Some black chick that can’t remember a thing about herself.
There’s no telling how they will treat me. Nope. I’m not doing it and fuck John for being an ass. He probably knew I wouldn’t want to go in the first place.
“Shall I cancel the car then?”
This gets my attention. “Do you have the address the car was supposed to take me to?”
“I believe all of that information has been given to the driver.”
“Thanks. I’ll go down and let him know I won’t be needing him myself,” I say and grab the keys for the bike I rented.
Looks like I have a wedding to crash.
John
I look at my phone for the millionth time. Roni should’ve been here by now. Finding her a dress shouldn’t have taken that long. I wish I knew her size. I would’ve given it at the desk along with my request for the color.
The more I thought about seeing her, the more I envisioned her in something sexy and yellow. A dress I could spend the day imagining peeling off. I may have no plans of touching Roni, but I can sure think about it.
“What’s up with you?”
I look up to find Ryan with his eyes narrowed on me. Oh great, of all my brothers to home their focus in on me it had to be Ryan. This kid doesn’t miss a thing. I think it’s because he’s the baby in the family. He’s beyond observative, even for a PI.
“Nothing,” I grumble.
“You’ve been watching your phone since before the wedding started. Something’s up.”
“It’s nothing. Isn’t there someone else here you can harass?”
“Nope,” he says, popping the p. “You’re distracted. Where you been lately? Dad hasn’t been too forthcoming with details about your schedule. That’s a little odd.”
“I’ve been minding my own fucking business. Something your ass needs to learn to do.”
He draws his brows and immediately, I feel like an asshole. I’m frustrated. The GPS on Roni’s phone has her pegged as a few miles from here. She was on the move toward me and then she just stopped.
At first, I thought she was in traffic, but that thought went out the window two hours ago. I haven’t had a real moment to call her. I already know when we talk it’s not going to be a quick conversation, so